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Show Helen Hayes: At 69, Busier, Happier The First Lady of the American theater keeps threateningto retire, but she just doesn’t have time to quit . just pull tab, oait feeds Automatically. SAFE.. .contains no vio- jent poisons...when ust as di ‘sate around children and pets. OUTSELLS ALL A HOUSE and its furnishings tell much about a person’s way of life. Helen Hayes lives in a white, New England colonial-style home in Nyack, about 30 miles north of New York City. Quaintness, stateliness, neatness, love, and memories abound in the two-story frame building that overlooks the Hudson River. Fond keepsakes are everywhere. Books by those whom she knew and loved: Thornton Wilder, Ben Hecht, Moss Hart, and of course, all the writings of her late husband, Charles MacArthur. Records of a generation ago: “Rhumba with Xavier Cugat,”“Bing closeat friends may even notice. FREE HOME TRIAL. No down paymen Low as $10 monthly. thory back guarant Free custom ear mold. Order direct and Write today for free catalog and confidenti booklet. No obligation. PRESTIGE, Dept. D-160, Box_ 16347, PHOTO CREDITS Crosby’s “Sing St. Valentine’s Day,” Ted Lewis “Is Everybody Happy?” The records looked much played and the books well read. The garden itself typifies Miss Hayes’ dedication to nature. She works in it almost every day,pulling weeds, doing all the menial tasks. Not long ago, she atepped in a hole and twisted her ankle. Last year she got poison ivy. But for her it remains a labor of love. Miss Hayes lives with Vera Benlion, her long-time companion, and an elderly housekeeper. These three women somehow look after the 15room home. “It’s a big house,’ Miss Hayes agrees. “My friends advised me to move out. A couple of years ago I almost sold it. Then the sale fell through. I put it up for sale again. It fell through a second time. So I felt it was God’s will that I stay.” She smiled, a marvelous, contagious smile. “I don’t think He ever made a better decision!” Miss Hayes has worked since she popeTe Corry for DP. When You Order Mail From Family Weekly .. . Please allow up to four weeks for delivery. ‘The ads are placed by ability by Family Weekly, too. If you've any ‘question about mail order, just write: Servic) Department, Family Weekly, 641 Lexington Avewe, New York, N.Y. 10022. l COMPUTER MATEIS NOT | 131 1 East 42 St., New York, N.Y. 10017 started acting in Miss Hawke’s dancing recitals at the age of five. Undoubtedly, she has earned the right to retire and has, in fact, attempted to on a number of occasions. It just didn’t take. She has simply exercised her woman’s prerogative to change her mind. It was right after her most recent announcement about retiring that she found herself at a dinner party sitting next to Ross Hunter, who was just getting ready to produce his next film, “Airport.” Although he “ Family Weekly, March 15, 1970 In film,“Airport,” Helen Hayes stows away on jet to Rome. Van Heflin is at right. knew that she had not done a film in 18 years, he offered her the part of Ada Quonsett in the film. To his surprise, she said, “I would love to do it. The character is really a rascal, and everybody knows the world loves @ rascal.” For a woman of 69, Miss Hayes is in remarkably good health. She kept up with the youngest on the set of “Airport.” When Jacqueline Bisset said she was not going to belt little old lady in the face for one scene, Miss Hayes retorted, “You will, and you will hit me hard so the scenewill work!” Miss Bisset took her advice and smashed her—and the scene worked. Miss Hayes even scorned a standin for a wrestling scene with the mad bomber in the film, played by Van Heflin. It was somethingof a reunion for the two veterans, who last acted together in “My Son John”in 1952. Miss Hayes’ delight with this particular picture is in contrast to her feeling about Hollywood in general and most “now” pictures, specifically. She is particularly sad because the Hollywood she knew—the town and the industry with which she was so heavily involved in the ’30s and ’40s —seems to have fuded away. She is even more disturbed about the films that are being shown today. “They scare me”she told me. “The other day I went to see ‘Midnight Cowboy.’ I think the performances were great, but I was so upset by the whole thing that when I came homeI read a cheerful play to wipe out the impression. I dca’t think a film like this makes me a better person or a better citizen.” Among the numerous awards and honors conferred upon Helen Hayes is a Doctor of Fine Arts from Princeton University. She has honorary degrees from Hamilton College, Smith College, Columbia University, the University of Denver, and St. Mary’s College. A Broadway theater is named in her honor,and for herfirst motion Picture, “The Sin of Madelon Claudet,” in 1981, she won an Oscar. Yet she never cared for Hollywood, either as a place to work or to live. It was her husband's writing assignments that took her to the coast in the first place. Helen Hayes and author Charles MacArthur were married in 1928 and devoted to each other until he died in 1956. “I got into films because Charlie was working in Hollywood, and we wanted to be together. “But neither Charles nor I felt that Hollywood was a place for children to grow up in. We wanted the atmosphere of a small Midwestern town, where they could run up the street to a friend’s house, the way we did. We didn’t want the chic Long Island suburb, nor a fashionable New York apartment. Here in Nyack we found what we wanted, and that’s |